MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICE 577

man on board, he should describe the person's illness, or accident,
as the case may be, the treatment adopted, etc., the exact time of
death and the ship's position at the moment.

The entry to be signed by the Chief Officer and by some of the
friends of the deceased person, especially by any of the men who
had been detailed to look after him. The ship should be stopped and
Christian burial conducted.

The property and money due to a deceased seaman is delivered
to the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office within 48 hours
of ship's arrival at a home port. But if the effects are sold on board
by public auction an accurate entry giving the following particulars
must be made in the Official Log and duly signed by an officer and
a member of the crew.

(a) A statement of the amount of the money and a description

of the effects.

(b) A description of each article sold and the sum received for

each.

(c) A statement of the sum due to the deceased for wages and

the amount of deductions (if any) to be made from the

CASUALTIES.
" Courts of Enquiry,"—In the event of a shipping casualty,
the Board of Trade usually hold a preliminary inquiry on the result
of which the Board may order a formal investigation into the
circumstances to be held before a Commissioner of Wrecks, who
will be assisted by nautical assessors appointed by the Home Office.
The Legislature of any British possession has also power to
authorise a tribunal to make inquiries as to shipwreck or other
casualties affecting ships, or as to charges of incompetency or mis-
conduct of masters, mates and engineers.
* * A Naval Court *' may be summoned by a commanding
naval officer on any foreign station, or by a Consular officer, whenever
a complaint of serious breaches of discipline which appears to that
officer to require immediate investigation is made to him by the
master of a British ship, or officers oir members of the crew; when-
ever the interest of the owner or of the cargo thereof appears to